With a new casino-friendly governor, Bruce Rauner, Illinois lawmakers soon will introduce familiar-sounding gaming legislation. Like last year, the coming measure would create five new casinos in Lake County, Chicago, Rockford, Danville and the south suburbs and add 1,200 slots at Arlington International and other horse racetracks.
State Rep. Bob Rita, who sponsored gaming measures in previous years, said, “I think Rauner understands that there’s the need for finances in the state, so this is an opportunity to get things moving in the right direction.” Former Governor Pat Quinn vetoed two gambling proposals during his two terms.
Arlington International Racecourse spokesman Thom Serafin said, “We are anxiously observing from the sidelines” to see what Rauner might do regarding gambling. Arlington Chairman Dick Duchossois is was a major donor to Rauner’s inauguration and transition team committees.
But state casinos are not in favor of racinos or more casinos Illinois Casino Gaming Association Executive Director Tom Swoik said, “Gambling expansion would just sift people from one place to another and would not increase revenue.” Illinois Gaming Board figures indicate the state’s casinos brought in $86.7 million less in 2014 than in 2013, and casino admissions were down 1.4 million over the same time.
The only casino with increased revenue in 2014, Rivers Casino in Des Plaines brought in more than $425 million in 2014, up $6.5 million over 2013. However, admissions were down 5.3 percent. The largest revenue loss among suburban casinos occurred at Grand Victoria in Elgin, with an 11.6 percent drop to $171.8 million in 2014; admissions also fell 14.8 percent. Admissions declined by 12.7 percent at Hollywood Casino in Aurora and by 11.3 percent at Hollywood Casino in Joliet.
